Gas-engine timer



Feb. i

J. M. CALLAHAN GAS ENGINE TIMER Filed Oct. 10. 1921 Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. CALLAHAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF-ONE-THIRD T PAUL P. DONOVAN AND ONE-THIRD TO JAMES L. DONOVAN, BOTH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. CALLAHAN,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engine Timers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas-engine timers, and has for its object the provision of a simple and eflicient construction of this character, especially adapted for application to Ford automobiles.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will'be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view of thetimer,

Fig. 2, a section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1,

' gig. 3, a bottom plan view of the timer, an

Fig. 4, a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a metallic casing 5 substantially in cup form adapted to fit over the end of the timer shaft 6 of an ordinary Ford automobile, suitable flanges 7 being provided on the front of the engine casing for positioning said casing, as shown. The timer shaft 6 carries a timer arm 8 rigidly secured thereto and carrying a forwardly extending contact piece 9. The contact piece 9 is in cup formand a compression 5 ring 10 is imprisoned, as shown, to exert orward pressure on said contact piece. The casing 5 is in substantially cylindrical form, but is flattened at one side 11 so as to accommodate the fan belt of the automobile and also to provide a non-circular shape to the casing 5.

An insulating block 12 is removably inserted in the casing 5 shaped to fit the interior thereof and prevented from rotation therein by the flattened side 11 of said casing, which said insulating block fits. The block 12 is provided with a retaining flange 13 engaging against the shoulder 14 provided in the casing 5 between the cylindrical and flattened portions thereof and whereby said GAS-ENGINE TIMER.

Serial No. 506,821.

insulating block will be positioned substantially centrally in said casing. The insulating block 12 carries four electrical contact members 15 embedded in, and extending entirely through said block, said contact members being arranged in a circle to make electrical conuectionswith the contact piece 9 as the same revolves with the shaft 6. A tube 16 leads upwardly from the casing 5 behind the block 12 and wires 17 are passed through said tube and connected, as indicat ed, with the contact members 15, the wires 17 being the usual spark plug wires of a Ford engine. The casing 5 is detachably held in place by means of the-usual spring timer arm 18 of the Ford engine, as shown, and a perforated arm 19 is provided on the upper side ofsaid casing for connection with the spark lever of the automobile, and whereby the casing 5 may be rocked as desired to advance or retard the spark in the usual way.

By this arrangement a simple and effective construction is provided which may be readily substituted for the ordinary Ford timer. It will be observed that the wires leading to the timer are fully protected and permanently attached, so that it is impossible for them to get out of order. The parts are simple and durable, and easily disassembled for repairs when necessary and can only be re-assembled in correct relationship. A positive and reliable wiping contact is made, thus insuring a good spark for operating the engine. The specific form, and arrangement of parts is a simple and effective one for the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of the construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

1. The combination with a timer shaft, of a timer arm secured to the end thereof; a spring pressed contact piece on said timer arm; a metallic casing fitting over the end of said timer shaftsaid casing being cylindrical in form but flattened in the outer portion Ill thereof, there being a shoulder between the cylindrical and flattened portions of sa d casing; an insulating block fitting into said casing and provided with a retaining flange engaging against said shoulder. the end of said block being flattened to fit the flattened portion of said casing; electric contacts inibedded in and extending entirely througl said insulating block and cooperating w said contact piece: a tube leading from said casing behind said block: and wires passing through said tube and secured to said electric contacts, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a timer shaft, of a timer arm secured to the end thereof; a spring pressed contact piece on said timer arm; a metallic casing fitting over the end of said timer shaft said casing consisting of an inner cylindrical portion and an outer portion substantiall cylindrical in form but of less diameter than said inner portion, said outer portion being flattened on one side, and there being a shoulder formed between said inner and outer portions:

an insulating block fitting into said casing and provided with a retaining flange engaging against said shoulder,

the end of said block being flattened to fit the flattened outer portion of said *asing; electric contacts imbedded in and extending entirel through said insulating block, the inner ends of said contacts being arranged flush with said block and contacting with said contact piece; a tube leading from the outer portion of said casing; and wires passing through said tube and secured to the outer ends of said electric contacts, substantially as described a. The combination with a timer shaft, of a timer arm secured to the end thereof: a cup shaped contact piece with an enclosed spring mounted on said timer arm; a substantiall cylindrical metallic casing having an enlarged part mounted over said arm and a smaller part with a flattened side and fitting over the end of said timer shaft; an insulating block flattened at one side to fit said casing and being readily insertable and removable therefrom; electric contact members GIHlJQddQd in and extending entirely through said insulating block and forming a smooth inner face with said block over which said contact piece slides; a tube leading from said casing behind said block; and wires passing through said tube and secured to said electric contacts, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a timer shaft and a timer arm provided with a contactpiece mounted on the shaft. of a casing having an enlarged part mounted over the arm and having a smaller partwith a flattened side fitting over the end of the timer shaft; a member flattened at one side to removably fit within said casing and carrying contact elements cooperating with the contact piece: and means providing an enclosure and passage for electric conductors secured to said contact elements, substantially as described.

In testin'ion whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. CALLAHAN. lVitnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Po'rrs, FREDA C. APrLE'roN. 

